Method of using PIR arrays for gesture recognition in security systems

Abstract

A apparatus is provided that includes a security system that protects a secured geographic area, a passive infrared (PIR) array associated with the security system, and a processor of the security system that detects one of a plurality of predetermined hand motions by an authorized user based upon a signal from the PIR array and causes the security system to execute a predetermined instruction associated with that one predetermined hand motion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus comprising:
 a security system that protects a secured geographic area; 
 a passive infrared array associated with the security system; 
 a processor of the security system that detects user hand motion based upon a signal from the passive infrared array, matches the user hand motion to a selected one of a plurality of reference hand motions saved in a memory, and causes the security system to execute a predetermined instruction associated with the selected one of the plurality of reference hand motions, 
 wherein a first one of the plurality of reference hand motions comprises a first gesture across the passive infrared array in a first direction, 
 wherein the predetermined instruction associated with the first one of the plurality of reference hand motions includes an arm away command, 
 wherein a second one of the plurality of reference hand motions comprises a second gesture across the passive infrared array in a second direction opposite the first direction, and 
 wherein the predetermined instruction associated with the second one of the plurality of reference hand motions includes an arm stay command. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the passive infrared array is carried by a user interface of the security system. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein the passive infrared array is attached to a keypad of the user interface. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the passive infrared array is carried by a wall proximate a user interface of the security system. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the passive infrared array includes a 4 by 4 array of passive infrared devices. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of reference hand motions saved in the memory include a respective sequence of predetermined hand positions across a field of view of the passive infrared array. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as in  claim 6  wherein the respective sequence of predetermined hand positions includes a respective predetermined time interval between each hand position of the respective sequence of predetermined hand positions. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the first direction is rightward across the passive infrared array. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the second direction is leftward across the passive infrared. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus comprising:
 a security system that protects a secured area; 
 a user interface located within the secured area that controls the security system; 
 a passive infrared array associated with the user interface; and 
 a processor of the security system that executes a selected one of a plurality of predetermined instructions by matching user hand motion made with respect to the passive infrared array to a selected one of a plurality of reference hand motions saved in a memory that corresponds to the selected one of the plurality of predetermined instructions, 
 wherein a first one of the plurality of predetermined instructions includes an arm away command and corresponds with a first one of the plurality of reference hand motions that includes a first gesture across the passive infrared array in a first direction, and 
 wherein a second one of the plurality of predetermined instructions includes an arm stay command and corresponds with a second one of the plurality of reference hand motions that includes a second gesture across the passive infrared array in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein the passive infrared array is attached to a keypad of the user interface. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein the passive infrared array is carried by a wall proximate the user interface of the security system. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein the passive infrared array includes a 4 by 4 array of passive infrared devices. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as in  claim 10  wherein the plurality of predetermined instructions includes one or more of arm away, arm stay, quick exit, duress, medical panic, police panic, fire panic, and chime modes. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus comprising:
 a security system that protects a secured area; 
 a user interface located within the secured area that controls the security system; 
 a passive infrared array that detects one of a plurality of predetermined hand motions made at the user interface; and 
 a processor of the security system that executes one of a plurality of predetermined instructions corresponding to the one of the plurality of predetermined hand motions, 
 wherein the one of the plurality of predetermined instructions includes at least one of an arm away command and an arm stay command, and 
 wherein the one of the plurality of predetermined hand motions includes at least one of a first gesture across the passive infrared array in a first direction and a second gesture across the passive infrared array in a second direction. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as in  claim 15  wherein the passive infrared array further comprises a 4×4 array.